Some Dodgers, Angels leaving to prepare for World Baseball Classic

PEORIA, Ariz. - For dozens of Major League Baseball players plucked from their camps around Arizona and Florida, the journey is about to begin.

The Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez, Luis Cruz, Hanley Ramirez, Ronald Belisario, Javy Guerra and Nick Punto, along with Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, leave today to train with their respective countries in the World Baseball Classic. They could be gone for as few as eight days or as many as 18, depending on how far each team advances in the tournament.

The third edition of the WBC holds different meanings for different fans; the same is true for the players.

"For me and Adrian, we've been talking, waiting for this," said Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz, who will be joined by Gonzalez and Guerra on Team Mexico. "I think all our country has been waiting for this. We're ready, man.

"I think everybody at this time is ready. Me and Adrian have been training since January 11. I think we're ready mentally."

Guerra told the Dodgers on Saturday he would be was added to the Mexican roster as an injury replacement.

Gonzalez, Cruz, Guerra and Punto (who will play for Italy) won't have to travel far for now. They're in a four-team bracket with Canada and the United States playing games in Phoenix and nearby Scottsdale. Mexico even has an exhibition game against the Dodgers scheduled for Wednesday at Camelback Ranch.

Ramirez, Aybar and Belisario are headed for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ramirez and Aybar will play for the Dominican Republic, and Belisario for Venezuela, in a four-team bracket with Spain and Puerto Rico.

The top two teams in each bracket advance to the second round in Miami. The championship round is March 17-19 in San Francisco.

Cruz said he'd have to shift his mindset from the more relaxed Cactus League atmosphere to prepare for the WBC, but not Ramirez.

"I play the game like it's going to be my last game every day," even in spring training, Ramirez said.

He believes he'll split the tournament between shortstop and designated hitter, though he hasn't confirmed that decision with Dominican general manager Moises Alou.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he plans to watch his own players' games and won't be rooting against them, even though he would rather they be in camp.

"I want these guys to do well," Mattingly said. "I'm not concerned about it. I think if you ask every manager and general manager would you like to have your guys in camp, we're all going to say yes. But in the big picture of things you don't want to stand in the way of the growth of the game internationally, and I think that's what the WBC represents."

Also ...

Dodger Stadium is hosting an open house for prospective season ticket buyers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Eight spring home games will be broadcast on Dodgers.com, including today's game against the Cleveland Indians, the team announced. The other "webcasts" are Wednesday (against the Mexican national team), Friday (Cincinnati), Saturday (Seattle), March 14 (Chicago Cubs), March 15 (Kansas City), March 19 (Oakland) and March 22 (Cincinnati).